Ampoule package



' June 5, 19551 c. E. sLAuGH-rER AMPOULE PACKAGE Filed Sept'. 23, 1947 fro/swf):

Patented June 5, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AMPOULE PACKAGE Charles E. Slaughter, New Canaan, Conn.

Application September 23, 1947, Serial No. '775,630

(Cl. 20G-46) 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to ampule packages and particularly containers for ampules and related articles.

Ampules containing substances to be protected such as pharmaceuticals, medicinals, chemicals, etc., are of frangible lcharacter, usually being made of glass or similar material which is quite fragile. Containers of this character are necessary when used for ampules because the neck or long stem of the ampule must be capable of being readily broken to permit access to the contents thereof. Because of the fragile charac ter of these ampules, particularly when made from glass, packaging has always been a problem. In the prior art containers for ampules have usually been made of cardboard with various devices for maintaining the ampules in position to avoid vibration in shipment or use which is likely to break the ampule. But such prior art packaging has not been satisfactory for a ynumber of reasons.

Among the objects of the present invention is the `production of a container for a frangible ampule which is economical to produce, which relieves the ampule from any possible strain in shipment or use and fully protects it.

Other objects include containers which enable the ampule to be reached readily for removal of the contents.

Stillfurther objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood that such more detailed description is given by way of illustration and explanation only, and not by way of limitation, since various changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of thepresent invention.

In connection with that more detailed description, there is shown in the accompanying drawing, in

Figure l, one form of package produced in ac cordance with the present invention including the container and the ampule therein; in

Figure 2, a vertical cross-section through the outer telescoping section of the container of Figure l; in

Figure 3, a plan view of the section of Figure 2; in

Figure 4, a vertical section through the inner f telescoping section of Figure 1; in Figure 5, a bottom plan View of the inner section of Figure 4; in

Y, j Figure 6, a modified form of package showing i container and ampule therein; and in Figure 7, a vertical section through the container of Figure 6 with one of the end closures removed.

In accordance with the present invention, packaged ampules of frangible character containing substances to be protected whether pharmaceuticals, medicinale, corrosive chemicals, etc., utilizing containers for such ampules, which containers are made in their entirety desirably, from thin flexible thermoplastic stock, which desirably may be transparent, the container being of such character as to protect the entire ampule against breakage but permitting ready access thereto when the contents of the ampule are to be removed therefrom.

Containers for packaging such frangible ampules are desirably made in accordance with the present invention from thin walled extruded thermoplastic tubing producing a thin walled thermoplastic cylindrical cartridge having a thin flexible thermoplastic closure at one end of the cartridge against which the base of the ampule abuts and a thin flexible perforated thermoplastic disc positioned in said cartridge at some distance from the closure so that the neck of the ampule may extend through said perforation with the shoulder of the ampule engaging against the perforated disc. In this way the ampule is locked in position securely between the thin flexible thermoplastic closure at one end of the cartridge and the' thin flexible perforated thermoplastic disc in said cartridge whereby the cartridge protects the ampule in its entirety locking the ampule in place safely and free from any vibration. f

In the most desirable form of containers produced in accordance with the present invention, the packaging of the ampule as well as access to the ampule to remove the contents thereof is facilitated by making the container in the form of telescoping sections, the outer section having a closure at one end against which the` base of the ampule may abut while the inner section carries a perforated disc closure at one end thereof through which the neck of the ampule may extend with the shoulder of the ampule engaging `against the perforated disc. In such telescoping arrangement, the telescoping sections may be moved into position while the ampule has been placed Within them as further described below in orderto adapt the container to the exact ampule being packaged regardless of variation in the length or contour of such ampule. l

Considering the form of invention shownV in Figures 1 to 5 of the drawing, illustrating the '5 being moved into section I wall I2 Vof the disc 8 .engages Aagainst the shoulcontainer produced with telescoping sections, an outer section I of cylindrical contour and produced from thin walled ilexible thermoplastic material is produced by any desired extruding operation or in any other way, one end of such section I having a closure 2 consisting of a thin flexible thermoplastic disc cemented or otherwise positioned in the end 3 of the section I, the other end II .of the section I being open. The inner telescoping section l5 is also desirably of a thin walled flexible thermoplastic material desirably of the same material as that of section .I and also is desirably produced from extruded thermoplastic stock in any desired Way but may be made in any other manner. Such inner section 5 has an outer diameter of a size to engagefrictionally with the inner walls of the outer section I so that the diameter of section 5 is only slighly less than the inner diameter of section I in order to permit the frictional contact of the tion 9 centrally located therein and of a lsize so that the Aneck IU of the ampule may extend through the perforationg while the shoulder II "will Aengage against lthe solid portion I2 of the disc 8.

` In use, the ampule is placed within vsection I lin 'the position shown in Figure l, and -then the innertelescoping section 5 is moved into section 'I with the neck l0 of the ampule extending through .the perforation 9 of the disc 8, section until the solid der I'I of the ampule and .locks it securely in position. Since the ampule is held between Athe thin ilexible discs 2 and 8, it is kept free from any vibration. The ampule is locked securely in position and where the plastic employedis transparent or at least translucent, the ampule is readily available for inspection of its contents.

Furthermore the telescoping sections permit 'the package to be adjusted tothe ampules re- `gardles's of their variation in length. There is variation .in all such products and they .are not vstandard as to length. For example, an'ampule `having at its wider portion a 2%. inch diameter will have a tolerance generally .or about P115 inch Yvariation in length. It is important thatthe arnpulebe securely locked in place. The telescoping sections, and particularly the intermediate disc 8 enables adjustment of the position of the sections regardless of any Yvariation inthe length of the ampule. The intermediate disc 8 being forced into place under slight pressure causes the ampule to be locked securely between the'discs 2 and 8 and prevents any possibility ofvibration reaching the ampule.

Furthermore since the ampule `is locked securely in a position free yfrom vibration, it is possible te nick the neck of the ampule as at I3 with a diamond cut for example, in order 'to indicate the point at'which the neck is uto be broken. This will not weaken the ampule suiciently in the container referred to because of the secure protection which is obtained for the ampule in such a package. Heretofore, in pack- 'aged ampules, it has been necessary to include a small le with each ampule or carton of ampules to enable the user to scratch or notch the neck of the ampule. The present invention elim- Lli) v the ampule contents.

inates the necessity for packaging les with the ampules, and also avoids the danger of breakage through lack of skill which frequently resulted from improper attempts to scratch or nick the glass.

Furthermore when the ampule is to be used or the .contents removed therefrom, removal of" the section '5 leaves the ampule in position in the .outer section I and protects the user when the neck of the ampule is being broken for removal of the contents.

Desirably the package as shown in Figure 1 with the ampule positioned in place between the telescoping sections I and 5, are locked together by placing a band or tape of adhesive character such as Scotch tape around the sections I and 5 as shown to hold the sections in posi- `tion. The tape .is readily removed when it is ldesired to gainaccess to the ampule.

A modified form of the invention is shown in Figures-'6 and '7 obtaining most of the advantages Yset yforth above Without the use of -telescoping sections. In this instance the container vmay take the form -of a thin wallediiexible thermoplastic tube I5 desirably extruded and provided with a closure `I desirably also of thi-n ilexible 'thermoplastic disc-like character, cemented or otherwise sealed in position in the end of the tube 15. Intermediate the ends of the tube I5 and at a point a suicient distance from the open end of the tube I5 .as shown in Figure 7 Vto engage against `the Yshoulder of the ampule, Athe intermediate thin-walled flexible thermoplastic disc I'I is cemented Vor otherwise secured vinplace rin the tube I5 intermediate the ends thereof at the position indicated, the disc I'I having 'a perforation I8 through which the neck `of theampule may extend while .the solid vportion .of .the .disc II engages against .theshoulder of the ampule. In the use of this form of device, the tube SI15 .carrying end closures .I6 and intermediate .flexible disc I'l asshown .in Figure '7 is utilized, Vthe ampule |-9 vis inserted into .the tube I5 rwith the '.-neck 20 .of the .ampule Vextending through the perforation I8 while the shouldery 2I .engages againstthe-solid portion `ol? the disc II.A Arr-.end

closure22 desirablyof thin-wallediiexible thermoplastic `disc like' material vis then positioned .in the end of the tube I5 as vshownin `Figure .6

`there free from vibration. The 4disc P22 is sealed in position by cement or in .any other `way in the end of .thetube I5. In the typeof package shown in .Figure 6, the neck ofthe ampule may benicked or scratched as indicated at 23 for purposes analogous to those in connection with the scratch I3 .of Figure 1.` The package of Figures 6 and 7 utilizing a single tube of the character set forth without telescoping sections .enables many ofthe advantages of the device of Figure V1 to be obtained but is not used as readily for removal .of Y Thus in the -use .of -the package of Figure B, the 'tube I5 must; 'be cut through at a vpoint such as 2ll above the ampule.

In use, therefore, the ltelescop'ing"sections vand that of Figure l6 but both forms of the invention enable packaging of ampules to "be readilyproduced economically, Ain .containers that Aprevent breakage, enable Yready adjustment to variation in the length of the ampules, eliminate the necessity for packaging of les with the ampules, and secure a number of advantages as pointed out above. A

The cross-sectional configuration of the containers may be of any desired character. It has been illustrated as circular but any other contour may be employed such as square, hexagonal, oval, etc., and adapted to any desired type of ampule or similar type of article. While transparent thermoplastics are desirably employed for the containers, they may be translucent or even opaque if visibility is not desired and the plastics may be dyed, pigmented, or otherwise colored.

Any desired type of thermoplastic material may be utilized particularly those that are available for extrusion purposes since the tubes and tubing employed in producing the containers are desirably those obtained by extrusion processes. As exemplary of such thermoplastic materials that may be employed there may be mentioned thermoplastic synthetic resinous materials including cellulose derivatives such as the esters and ethers, for example, cellulose acetate, cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate butyrate, ethyl cellulose, benzyl cellulose, etc.; vinyl polymers and copolymers including polymerized Vinyl acetate, polymerized vinylidene chloride, and copolymers of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate; polymerized styrenes; methacrylate and methyl methacrylate resins, acrylate and ethyl acrylate resins, polyethylenes, nylon type resins, etc.

Having thus set forth my invention, I claim:

1. In a package, a frangible ampule containing a substance to be protected and a container therefor, said container comprising outer and inner telescoping sections, the outer section having a closure at one end against which the base of the ampule abuts the other end of the section being open, and the inner section movably televthe other end of the section being open, and the inner section movably telescoping Within the open end of the outer section and having an end pro-- vided with a thin flexible perforated thermoplastic disc closure, the neck of the ampule extending through said perforation with the shoulder of the ampule engaging against the perforated disc, the other end of the inner section extending beyond the outer section and having a closure at its outer end.

CHARLES E. SLAUGHTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 91,884 Thompson June 29, 1869 579,560 Caillet Mar. 30, 1897 1,134,445 Flesher Apr. 6, 1915 2,046,562 Kane et al July 7, '1936 2,102,886 Conner Dec. 21, 1937 2,349,020 Throckmorton May 1,6, 1944 2,285,220 Morrell June 2, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 588,031 France Jan. 26, 1925 

